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David Peabody has been a pioneer in passive and zero-energy building in the United States. Through practice, advocacy and collaboration, he works to advance the design profession’s leadership in the transition to an economy built on connected, energy-positive buildings.
David led Peabody Architects, in Alexandria, Virginia, from 1992 until 2020, designing numerous new homes and additions. Witnessing and participating in the growth of sprawl in the suburban DC area through the ‘90’s led both to awareness that the way building is done today is not sustainable, and a conviction that architects cannot sit on the fence with regard to environmental issues. In 2020, the firm name changed to Peabody|Fine Architects to reflect David’s new partnership with Matt Fine, who joined the firm in 2015.
Since committing the practice to sustainable design in 2000, he has become increasingly active in issues regarding architecture and the environment, and made these issues central to the way the firm approaches its work. One of the original certified U.S. Passive House architects, David adapted the international standard to the challenges of the mid-Atlantic climate, achieving a series of regional firsts: the first Passive house, the first modular production Passive house, and the first in the nation direct current ready zero energy Passive house. He brought the same rigor to retrofitting existing buildings, with the first ever Passive level retrofit of a National Register listed building. In 2021 he was elevated to Fellowship in the AIA for his work in sustainable design.
Today he continues to focus on developing affordable ways of retrofitting single and multi-family housing, and advancing direct current microgrids. Outside of the office, he is a leader in BuildOurFuture.org, a web-based organization devoted to educating both citizens and government leaders in Alexandria, VA about Passive and high-performance buildings.